[pct-l] try before buy - UL backpacks

[ralbach at austin.rr.com]

Indeed if the vendor would allow a return after a weekend trial even if
only around town (not that anybody could tell where it was) then my need
would be met.

So which UL vendors offer this?

And again I understand the concept of A and B stocks. I would not expect an
A stock eval.

Thanks,

-Robert

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Stephen reddirt2 at earthlink.net
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:47:02 -0700
To: Tortoise73 at charter.net, ralbach at austin.rr.com, pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] try before buy - UL backpacks


I just got my G4 from Gossamer for $80, which is a bit less than $200.
And after some trial and error got the right pad in it and am good to go
try 
it out.  I'm sure if it were unsatisfactory around the house and
neigborhood 
they'd take it back.  But these UL pack people are not REI and I wouldn't 
expect a 1 lb soft pack to carry like a 4 lb styed internal frmae pack, so 
after I pu tit through the paces and sweat all over it I wouldn't even 
consider asking them to take it back unless it were falling apart, which I 
really doubt.  You pay your money and learn like most of us.  I've been 
through a bunch of packs in the last ten years.  Sold a couple, wore a 
couple out, and still have four for vaious adventures.  But what comes to 
mind is that Robert has indirectly answered his own questions.  He does not 
want to buy a packonly to find out it doesn't ride well 2 days into his 
journey.  To that I say do the smart thing and get it more than two days 
before you leave, so you can haul some crap around in it and find out; see 
what it has to say for itself.  I got my G4 now, February actually, not in 
June when I intend to actually use it.  I been loading it different ways 
with varying weights and trying it out; now, not then.  Not at the last 
minute...  It is a new style and I want to make sure I can make it work for 
me even though I've packed light many times with other internal frame
packs. 
Ultra-light, or nearly so, is a little different approach and philosophy.
Get something now and try it out, if not good, send back and try something 
else so you have time to put some miles on it before committing.
Me personally I have a back up if I decide I don't like the G4 and wont 
think twice about falling back on my old faithful in a hot second at the 
last minute and can save the UL G4 for another hike.
Good luck...
Stephen
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tortoise" <Tortoise73 at charter.net>
To: "Albach" <ralbach at austin.rr.com>
Cc: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] try before buy - UL backpacks


>I understand why a vendor would loan out a pack for a trial hike before
> sale for if the pack comes back, it is *used* merchandise which would
> have to be sold far below new price.
>
> When I started backpacking, I was able to borrow a pack from a friend
> for a weekend to see if I liked backpacking. Even so, this was back in
> the days of rugged exterior frame packs which can handle more abuse than
> most UL packs.  Also since the pack I borrowed was already well used,
> there was no decline in value from my weekend use.
>
> Now if there is someone who could rent out various UL packs -----.
>
> Tortoise
>
> <> He who finishes last, wins! <>
>
>
>
> Albach wrote:
>> Folks,
>>
>> I'm thinking of trading in my 20 year old backpack for something lighter
>> but frankly would rather not make the $200+ investment just to find out
>> on day 2 that it is killing me.
>>
>> I can likely get a 2 or 3 day hike in prior to my starting my next
>> section (C). Does anybody know a vendor that would do a try before buy?
>> Would happily lay out a credit card number they can charge me if it
>> doesn't get returned in 2 weeks.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> -Robert
>>
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